ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For Denise Castelli, the Infection Prevention Leadership Summit provides hope — hope that healthcare teams will continue striving for new solutions to combat healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Denise knows the impact of HAIs all too well. As a senior center fielder at the University of New Haven, Conn., Denise suffered a broken leg while playing in one of her final college softball games. A leg infection ensued, keeping Denise on the sidelines for the next 15 months. After suffering through more than 30 surgeries to combat the surgical site infection, Denise had her right leg amputated below the knee. Denise's story is a poignant reminder that, despite the best efforts of passionate health care workers, HAIs still occur.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HAIs remain a significant threat to patient health and recovery and the financial viability of healthcare facilities. Approximately one in 201 hospitalized patients acquires an HAI, with an estimated annual direct medical cost to hospitals between $28.4 and $45 billion2. The cost benefits of prevention range from $5.7 billion (assuming 20 percent of infections are preventable) to as much as $31.5 billion (assuming 70 percent of infections are preventable)3. But, new approaches are needed that focus on leadership and collaboration across disciplines to achieve sustainable HAI reduction. This was the focus of the 2012 Infection Prevention Leadership Summit (IPLS) hosted by the 3M Infection Prevention Division and its partners Sage Products‚ Belimed and Rochester Medical, the only educational event of its kind to bring together key professional associations and interdisciplinary participants to exclusively focus on leadership in HAI reduction.

More than 30 teams representing healthcare facilities from all regions of the United States, Brazil, Canada and the Netherlands convened at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn., this week to tackle real-world business cases and challenges related to achieving sustainable HAI reduction. Unlike other meetings, IPLS brought together cross-functional teams for working sessions and leadership training. By focusing on their own real business cases, the teams emerged with solutions and ideas they can put into practice at their facilities.

"This summit provided a unique chance for us to see how other facilities are approaching their challenges and business cases and how we can put these key learnings and leadership skills into practice at our own facility," said Valerie Prager, RN, Epidemiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical System.

Teams representing the various areas within the hospital were invited to attend the annual summit that spanned members of the infection control, sterilization, operating room and environmental services departments within their respective hospitals. Seven professional organizations, including the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), and the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM), provided mentors to the hospital teams to provide leadership coaching during the on-site summit working sessions. On the final day of the summit, selected teams presented key takeaways and solutions to a select panel of hospital executives. All teams were able to sit in on these sessions and final presentations, providing learning and coaching opportunities for all present.

"One of the biggest issues facing the healthcare system today in the fight against HAIs is the breakdown in communication within the hierarchy of a facility. Many teams at IPLS were working on this specific challenge," said E. Patchen Dellinger, M.D., University of Washington Medical Center and past president of the Surgical Infection Society (SIS). "The summit provided an opportunity to hear what is working for others and allowed teams opportunities to develop strategies they can use to achieve universal adherence in their own hospitals."

The Summit was a collaborative effort co-sponsored by 3M‚ Sage Products‚ Belimed and Rochester Medical, in partnership with the following professional associations: SHEA‚ APIC‚ AORN‚ IAHCSMM‚ NPFS, SIS and AHE. The University of St. Thomas Physician Leadership Program developed the Summit curriculum focused on Leading Change for Sustainable HAI Reduction.

"To eliminate HAIs, we need to identify new strategies and solutions, as well as teach healthcare professionals the necessary leadership skills to implement change within their facilities," said Linda Groah, CEO/executive director of AORN. "The IPLS provides a unique opportunity to do both and reinforces the collaborative approach needed for sustainable success."

3M continues to lead the way with innovative approaches to the IPLS format and in providing opportunities to help healthcare facilities reduce HAIs. The format for 2012 was built on research and attendee feedback from last year's event. The team approach builds on the call-to-action white paper authored by the 2011 IPLS attendees, subject matter experts, noted faculty, professional society leaders and industry partners. The paper titled, Educate‚ Empower‚ Engage: A Collaborative Interdisciplinary Call to Action for Reducing Surgical Site Infection, is available through the 3M Infection Prevention Leadership Summit website.

About 3M Infection Prevention3M Infection Prevention Division is truly on a mission to help reduce healthcare-associated infections through its infection prevention solutions. With its system of people, products and processes, 3M remains a trusted partner committed to helping hospitals reduce the risk of infections, improve patient outcomes and control their bottom lines. Learn more at www.3m.com/infectionprevention.

About 3M Health Care3M Health Care offers solutions in the medical‚ oral care‚ drug delivery‚ food safety and health information markets. We have an unparalleled ability to connect people‚ insights‚ science and technology to think beyond today‚ solve problems‚ and make better health possible. Our culture of collaboration empowers us to discover and deliver practical‚ proven solutions that enable our customers to protect and improve the health of people around the world. Learn more at www.3M.com/healthcare.

About BelimedAt Belimed, Inc., www.belimed.us, our goal is to ensure absolute customer confidence in sterile processing areas through a unique and forward thinking approach. We provide solutions that can increase the efficiency of SPD's by delivering clean, disinfected and sterilized instruments to the OR by reducing waste and variation in processes resulting in lower operational costs, significantly reduced water consumption, and an enhanced working environment for SPD staff. We are a leading provider of medical Sterile Processing systems and solutions for hospitals and health care systems across the Unites States, and around the world.

About Rochester Medical CorporationRochester Medical Corporation develops, manufactures and markets disposable medical catheters and devices for urological and continence care applications. The company also sells certain ostomy and wound and scar care products and other brands of urological products into the European marketplace. For more information about Rochester Medical and its products, visit www.rocm.com.